Happiness (and Endless Tapas) Found at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort

I slid down into the warm pool, lying on my back, my ears pop-pop-popping as they filled with water… And then music.

I pushed back and floated across the pool, the bass reverberating in my chest and belly. I’d read about the mineral pool at the Tigh-Na-Mara resort before and assumed I’d love it purely for the sheer joy of bobbing happily in the water, but no one had told me there’d be music too. I closed my eyes and tried to stay still, floating in the silky mineral-rich waters, focussing on my breathing; breathing in and feeling my body rise up, breathing out and sinking back down again. I felt myself moving across the pool and opened my eyes, watching the sparkling sunlight dancing on the ceiling reflected back from the water.

I turned over and swam a few strokes to the waterfall and stood beneath it, enjoying the sensation of the water pounding my neck and shoulders, any stress melting away under the water’s rhythmic force.

It had already been a magical kind of morning. I’d travelled from Nanaimo north along the Island Highway to Rathtrevor Park, where I’d been greeted by one of the most jaw dropping natural beauties I’d ever seen. Pristine golden beach stretching out for miles, ringed by soaring shady green fir trees with gently sloping mountains in the distance beyond the still-sparkling sea. Surely one of Canada’s most gorgeous provincial parks, Rathrevor off-season is breathtaking. I’m told at the height of summer it’s a wholly different proposition, packed with campers and day trippers but on this blue sky day in early June, I sat under a tree at a picnic table and couldn’t be happier in my sunny solitude.

I checked into a dog-friendly cosy cabin at Tigh-Na-Mara complete with a welcome pack for Freddie. We gave the ball a work out on the beach a few steps away, then while Fred took a snooze, I headed to the pool and then supper in the Treetops restaurant to try their ‘Endless Tapas‘ offer which is not for the faint of heart. Delicious bite-sized portions kept on coming… A quartet of hummous with house-baked breads and crackers, just-caught fish marinaded in a tasty ceviche… All this tucked away in the trees, in a cool olive green room, serenaded by twittering bird song. A serious bargain at $55, and for spa-loving foodies, an absolute must-visit.

As the sun sank into the sea, I woke Fred from his snooze and we walked along the beachfront, and sat watching the sky blush pink, peach and purple before fading to black to reveal a night sky stitched with stars.

I slept soundly that night in my wooden cabin, lulled by the distant ssshush of the waves licking the shore.

I was a guest of Tigh-Na-Mara Resort, but as ever my words are 100% my own.

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About The Blog

My idea of happiness is... exploring a new city; finding the perfect place for a cocktail, an amazing spa with treatments that really work, a secret garden restaurant that only those in the know have heard of - and then sharing it with my readers. Why take a chance on somewhere that's only OK, when you can go somewhere fantastic?.
I fell madly in love with Canada a few years back and totally lost my heart to Vancouver, but there's only one way to find out if it's the real thing or a crush... dive in headfirst and see what happens! Join me as I blog about my adventures with my move to Canada's most fabulous celeb-city...